Fighting

During one of those five days, I asked Lex about this.

- Do you know anything about Felix Grey?

- I do know somethings.

- Care to elaborate?

- He is, as he said, the first child born between Creation and Carbon.

- Anything else?

- When the three children were born, each time Creation made an floating island that could house an entire city. All of them are ar invisible from below, so they don't create a shadow when on top of something. Don't ask how he did it. It just let's the light come straight through it.

- Can you teleport me to the island so that I can have a word with him?

- I'm afraid that is impossible.

- Why?

- First of all, I don't know the location of Felix's island. Second, Creation build something inside them so that only they can make things come to it. If Felix doesn't want you in, you aren't getting in. Only way for us to even attemt to get inside, is to find Creation and hope he has a backup plan.

- So we just have to sit and wait for the attack?

- I'm afraid so.

- Great. What about the other two? Should we worry about them.

- The middle child Vanos Grey, how do I put this... he is an collector of sorts. He also looks like an elf.

- What do you mean "collector"?

- I mean... he collects things to his island and hosts parties in it for a selected few. He is a bit of an snob, so I don't deal with him well. Or rather, I just dislike him.

- Would he support his brother's plan?

- I doubt it, but I also doubt his ability to do anything about it. He just enjoys the things mortals create. Things like swords and shields are all decorative in his island.

- Then what about the third?

- She might be our only hope.

- How so?

- Remember when I said couple of days ago that there is a person we, the original powers, consider as original power of space? That's her.

- Wow. What made her earn that title?

- For what I understand, she first just wanted to make her whole island fast travel with her. Everything else just came with it. And to make it clear, the islands themselfs can be moved, but it is not that fast.

- What can she actually do?

- As I said, she can make the whole island teleport with her. She can plain shift with ease and she can even move between subspace. The amount of things that she can teleport with her is much greater than I can manage. I'm sure that she, if no one else, might have a way to teleport to Felix's island.

- What is her name.

- Her name is Amire Locus Grey. She has a glassy tail that is similar to vitreus, though she is not one herself. It might have been inspiration when she was craeted.

- When she was created? So are they homunculi?

- Oh no, they were created with a natural method. But since Carbon had plenty of abilities, she made each of her children different on purpose. Felix resembles a human by the way.

- So how do we contact Amire?

- That's the thing. We don't.

- Do you have any idea where she is.

- No. But I might have a way to contact her.

- Then do that.

- As an uncle, I don't want to get in middle of family matter.

- As an uncle you SHOULD get in the middle. The guy is going to commit genocide for fuck sake.

- You... may be correct. It's just... I don't want to meet with Carbon.

- What does Carbon has to do with this? Does she know how to contact Amire or Felix?

- She does, but...

- What happened between you and Carbon?

- Nothing really. It's just... I'm the brother of Creation, the person she got very involved with. And since Creation has been gone for so long, I don't feel like she really likes to be reminded of those times.

- Did something happen between Creation and Carbon?

- Not anything that I'm aware of. They were pretty close, but one day Creation just dissapeared. Carbon might not believe me when I say that I don't know anything about my brother.

- So I need to go there in your place.

- You don't have to, it's just that I wont.

- Fine, teleport me and Low to Siel'Kel and we go to Grey.

- Okay then.

We then teleport to Siel'Kel and I explain the situation to Low and Siel'Kel. Siel'Kel then transports us to Grey and a we travel to Carbon's tower. When we get there, we ask around for Carbon, but everyone seems busy, so we get no answers. I then decide that we will go to the same place we last met her. Luck wasn't on our side, since we didn't see her there. So we just ended up looking around the tower, until eventually we found Carbon doing something. We intrude a bit.

- Hey Carbon, got a minute?

- Oh, I always have time for my creations. How have you been Low?

Low answers.

- I'm doing fine. Just couple of days ago I fought a pretty tough oponent. Had to take my clothes of so that they wouldn't get ruined.

- I see. What are you here for this time?

- We need your help to stop Felix.

- Felix huh. Yes, I heard about what he is planing. But unfortunately I couldn't convice him to stop. Only his father could beat some sense in to him now.

I say.

- So Amire is not an option either then.

- What do you need Amire for?

- She might have a way to get us inside Felix's island.

- I see. Then what?

- We beat him until he gives up.

- You do realize that he has an army that he is confident in oposing the whole world?

- We would somehow manage.

- While I'm sure Low would survive that, I doubt that it would bring any good on going there. In the first place, I don't know if Amire can do that.

- Then call up to her.

- You make it sound like its easy to do.

She does a thing and then a woman, bit taller than Low, comes. She has a long glassy tail coming from her, so she is probably Amire. She has a bluish tint on her mostly black hair and bit of a white hair. Kind of like Low, but with more white hair. She and Low had a small conversation.

- Why did you call me mother?

- It's not mother, it's creator.

- And who are you supposed to be?

- I'm Low. A homunculus created by creator Carbon with godly ingredients.

- So you are the one. I can call her mother since she gave birth to me like mother would. In fact, she was the one who gave birth to all of us Grey siblings. And this is Nor right?

- He is Nor, yes.

- Hhm.

She comes to look at me a bit closer. Maybe a bit too close.

- So you are the one father did... no, never mind.

- What did you say?

- Nothing important. So mother, what did you call me here for.

Carbon answers.

- I called you to confirm that wether or not you can enter Felix's island.

- It is possible, yes. But it is bit troublesome since the thing that father put in them makes them... annoying.

- So you can huh... Didn't expect that. Thought that your father made a quite a contraption when he made those islands.

- It sure took me a while to figure it out. I only known how to do it for 2122 years.

- So that recent.

You call that recent.

- Anyways, can you help trying to convince your brother to not cause genoside.

- I sure can try, but if you couldn't convice him, then the only person who can is father. My word has little bearing to him after all.

- Good, then go with Nor and Low.

- Okay. You two ready to go?

Low answers.

- Yes.

- Then let's go.

We suddenly were outside of a gold and white palace. I notice that we are on the edge of an floating island, so we must be here. Amire then says.

- Now that the most difficult part is out of the way, let's go to my brother.

We then are teleported to a throne room of some kind. We were kind of outside, but not quite. A porch? No matter. A human with blond hair and blue eyes starts speaking in disappointed maner.

- So you are here. As expected of my sister, you would find a way past father's defences againt teleportation. We haven't seen for a long time, so why do I owe this pleasure?

- We came here to ask you to stop what you are doing.

- *Sigh* Of course you would. But I must disappoint you dear sister, I'm not planing on making any changes to my future plans.

I then start to speak.

- This is ridiculous. Do you think that just because your father created most of the material world, that you would be entitled to the world he created?

- I don't think I said anything implicating otherwise.

- Do you think that your father would want this?

- Who knows what that old lord would think. Perhaps he has grown bored with this world. In any case, it doesn't matter what he thinks. It's too late now.

Amire asks.

- What do you mean?

- Don't you get it. Father is gone. The reason why he hasn't made a single attempt to come and meet us is because he doesn't exist anymore.

- No... He must still be alive. He just prefers to be alone now, that's all.

- Feel free to deny the truth. In the end, it doesn't change my plan.

- Then I will help as many people as I can to escape you cleansing.

- Since when did you got attached to mortal lives? Last I saw you, you didn't care a hair strand worth of any mortal maters. You just cared for your studies.

- I met many people who are worth staying with. Perhaps you would know better if you got out of your island.

- I have been visiting mortals sometimes. I even tried to build a family there.

- You? A family? Didn't expect that to happen. Then why do you still plan on exterminating most life?

- My plans long since stoped being about my former family. Now I only want to bring justice to this world.

- By killing the innocent?

- There rerely are people who are innocent. Everyone is quilty of something. I will cleanse this world from the filth and replace it with my new order.

- What happened to you?

- I learned the cold reality of this world. No matter how hard I try, the cruel nature of living beings will always come around. No matter how you purge it, there are always some greedy people who only think of themselfs. I wont allow what they falsely call "justice" to exist anymore. I will make everyone pay for their crimes that they have and will comit. No man, woman or child can escape my wrath.

- You have become insane.

- Call me what you will. Soon everyone will remember the day the golem army came.

- It's no use talking to you, let's go.

I say.

- Wait!

- What can you possibly do now? It's no use.

- What makes you so sure you will win?

Felix says.

- You think that there is possibility I will lose?

- There will be people who fight back.

- Come with me.

We start to left to see the army that is standing right there. The amout is enormous.

- This is only part of my army. Some are waiting out there for my command and some are still being made in the factory. I can always make more, when you all are limited to a sertain number of people. I will win.

- You...

I take out my sword and try to cut his neck. Then I'm reflected by a small metal piece floating in the air. With a disappoined, but not angry, voice

- You dare to try and assasinate me? As expected of ground dwellers.

- I will stop you!

- Be my guest. Try me.

Amire then grabs me and Low and we are then teleported to another place. Apparently to her island.

- Why did you stop me!?

- You would have died.

- What makes you say that? I didn't even had time to get more serious.

- Then if you thought that first strike was something that you can do again, then you're a fool. You should have done it seriously the first time.

- I would have given up a fight.

- Felix can just put a heavy barrier around himself and summon his golems while he is inside. You wouldn't have survived.

- Then with your help I would have...

- I wouldn't have helped you if things went on.

- Why? So you are siding with Felix?

- I wouldn't do such thing. I just... he wasn't always like this. He used to be loving and caring person. While his heart was filled by the art of making golems, he would always do things that would help others.

- He is going to commit genocide here! Do you not understand!?

- It's just... there must be another way. There must be.

- Thousands, if not millions, of lives are at risk here. We can't just wait around and try to find out another way.

- I'm... I'm sorry

She then teleports us near the soultree. How could she do this? There is no time. I must contact Lex. He says.

- As expected.

- What do you mean expected?

- I thought that it would end up as fruitless endeavor.

- But we still have to do something. I'm going back to Carbon and ask them to contact Amire.

- And to do what? Do you think that you can convince her to go and kill her brother when she clearly opposes the idea since she already made you leave.

- I must do that. If not, then thousands of lives are at risk.

- You two should soon decide where you want to hold your ground when the day comes. There is no other option available.

- But...

- You must decide.

He cuts the call. Is there really no other way? We just have to take the hit? There must be solution to this.

The days go by, and finally it becomes the day of the invasion. Aktor decided to go to Ost and Low decided to go to Atlas. I'm still in Lech't A Sol and maybe I will stay here. While I trust that Siel'Kel will keep the soultree, I'm not so sure if they will protect the people below.

The time has come. We could see an golem army marching from the forest. There were tons of iron, bronze and silver golems, but only few gold ones. I didn't see any glass golems, but I did see one silvery grey one, different from silver ones, in the back of the army. It seemed to be the leader of this army or something like that. The iron golems seemed to be doing the same kind of job as bronze ones. There also seemed to be steel golems in the mids, but the seem to be mainly shield carriers. there also seemed to be steel wolves who carry other golems on their backs.

The army on our side has readied their fighters. I was one of them. The civilians have retreated to the soultree as far as Siel'Kel would allow them to. Our numbers seemed greater, but we can't forget the devestating arrows.

Speaking of the silver golems, they readied their bows and started to shoot in volleys. The were as big as I remember them to be and the mages readied their magical shield around the town. While most of the arrows were prepelled, the shield was severly damaged and could barely hold. Then the next volley of arrows comes and the shield breaks and many were severly injured and killed. Then a third round of arrows comes at us and the mages barely make small shields to prepel some of them. Many of us were now unable to fight and the army started to move forward.

We helped the people who can't fight anymore, back to safety and when we were mostly done, we hurried back to the fight. I saw devastation throughout the town. I tried to destroy as many golems as I could, but their numbers were just too great. Then we all hear Siel'Kel's voice in our heads, saying.

- Get cover in 10 seconds!

We then went to find cover as quickly as we could and when the time was up, we could hear a loud thundering sounds right next to us. We had to fight some of the golems who got inside the cover, but they weren't too bad to handle. When we went out, we saw just piles of golems lying on the ground. They were severly damaged from molten metal to whole missing parts. The houses we took cover in, wouldn't have withstood the blasts. So we came to the conclusion that Siel'Kel just targeted anything that wasn't inside a house.

We could still see many golems in the distance, but their numbers had more than halved. With those who still could fight, we charged to at the army that were retreating to the woods. We quickly made sure that none of them could escape. Some of them gave us quite a fight while runing, but some were easy pickings. After we didn't see any more of them runing around, we concluded that it was our victory.

After the battle I wondered, why they ran? Back in aetherium mine, they could just dissapear. Just like that. Is it only possible with sertain types of golems? Come to think of it, the few golden golems we saw before the battle were mostly gone when we charged in. We didn't even see the, what I think it was, platinum golem.

But now that the battle was over, it was time to treat the wounded and build the town back up. We had a lot of metal to get off ground as well. What I heard later, it was bad in Atlas and Ost.

In Atlas, the main golem army didn't get past the bridge and both sides focused on magic and arrows. The wolves did almost break the gate, but they were taken care of before they became a problem. Apparently they saw flying golems as well and they carried glass golems with them past the walls. The glass golems are easy to break if you get a solid hit on them, but they are so quick that normal soldier could barely see them. The glass golems killed most soldiers out of all golems in that fight. Low didn't get to do much other than heal injured people.

In Ost, they managed to get past the wall and quite severly killed off more than half of the soldiers. What I hear, they used similar flying golems to drop glass golems to the back of the wall. Aktor was on the front lines when the gate fell and he took a massive chunk of the golem army. According to Red Ruby, if Aktor wasn't there, Ost might have fallen. There still is some golems around Hiék that are digging through the sands, looking for something.

What I heard, Ihm was mostly fine, with the exception of northern islands. Northern islands had a problem that most clans didn't want to be protected and unify, so they stayed by themselfs and were devestated when the golems came.

North of Ehstos was shatered. Urthom alliance was almost completely wiped out of the map and was now on Felix's control. Toros took quite a heavy hit also, but they just lost the western side of their kingdom and most of it's mines. Jorm kingdom was also quite heavily damaged and could barely hold their ground. Jorm kingdom later abandoned their capital and fled to east of Toros. Aresia wasn't as heavily damaged as Urthom, Jorm and Toros were, but they lost many people defending their lands. Ahtur lost some parts of their territory, but mainly was intact. Taican was barely attacked, and the attacks that came were easily defeated.

Nearn was mostly intact, but had lost some of the towns.

Arutos and some of the islands in Dia were protected by their dragon lords and their underlings. Most of Deroth also managed to counter the attack, though they tried pretty hard to destroy every last one of them.

Then we heard another announcement from Felix.

- Most of you have prepelled my first wave of attacks well. While some of you have fallen, there is still lot to be had. Rest now for another five days. When the sixth day comes, I will send another wave of golems on your way. And I will continue to give you the five days of rest each time I attack, for I am generous. Let's see how many waves can you take.

Everyone who had even remotely an military might decided to fortify. However, in Ehstos, they started to move people and armies to a more collected places. The towns would be full of people to the point there wasn't any housing. This was something that Ehstos did in desperation. Toros was mostly abandoned, leaving only couple of surveillance points to see what the golems did. Ahtur took people of Toros in with an open arms. With Toros, Ahtur took the remainder of Urthom alliance. Aresia decided to send it's people to Ahtur as well, but kept it's military stationed in their own country. It wasn't easy to move such abundance of people so far away, but somehow they managed to get in the towns of Ahtur

Low decided to that she will stay in Atlas. She said.

- I have a feeling that I might be needed there again. Maybe even more this time.

Then the second wave came. I was still in Lech't A Sol to make sure nothing bad will happen. While Siel'Kel guaranteed that they will protect the people there, I still wanted to stay. Perhaps it was because it felt like home to me.

The second wave had much less golems, but they had lot more guality troops. There were lot more golden golems than last time and lot more silver ones. Perhaps they try to use bows more this time. Then I saw something that made my spirit go down. It was the heat golem.

The attack started the same as last time, with volley of arrows. This time Siel'Kel helped with the magical shield, so the shield took all of the volleys they sent. Then I saw turquoise golem walking towards the shield. It did something to the shield that made it disappeared. Then another volley of arrows came raining down and we all ran for cover. Not all of us made it.

Then the golem army came runing towards us like last time, but this time they had heat golem coming infront of them. The heat was starting to be felt, when a thundering sounds can be heard again. Most of the golems were unable to move, but the heat golem just lost it's left arm and moved forwards. The core seemed to be damaged, so the heat wasn't unbearable. I took care of the heat golem, when the rest of our army took care of the others.

The heat golem wasn't that fast, but it was difficult to make any damage. We crossed blades couple of times until I finally managed to get my sword through its chest, destroying the core. It did the same as last time, it bowed and then sat with it's knees crossed. I helped the rest of the army to fend off the golems.

Then we saw that the that the golden and silver golems were still standing and they were getting ready for a rain of pain. Both magic and arrows. We ran as fast as we could towards them, but not all were fast enough.

When I got to the golden and silver golems, they started to disappear from view. The golden ones were making the silver ones disappear. I took as many as I could, but most of them got away. I still saw platinum golem standing there. It bowed and then disappeared.

The second wave was done. This time, many places had fallen. Ihm was almost completely taken out, but thanks to the joint effort of the points, they all started to gather to the centre island. They didn't make it in time, so many battles were still held outside of the centre island. Ikujää was holding tight on it's defenses and wasn't budging.

Atlas had a breach. The heat golem was seen there as well, and it rushed towards the cate and then expelled heat so much, that the door melted away. Low took care of it shortly after, but the damage was already done. Luckily no civilians were harmed, but apparently it came close. Mary lost her left eye, but when Low came to heal her, she said "I keep this as a memory". A couple of days later she would regret that decision and asked Low to heal her.

In Ehstos, things were mostly fine. Many troops died in battle, but overall, the damages were minimal. But when you talk about Hiék, things don't look so good. Most of the soldiers have been beaten or killed. Leaving only few soldiers who can actually fight. They decided to send their civilians to north just in case the worst happened

Nearn was mostly beaten and had only few remaining towns left.

In Arutos, the dragon lords made short work of the golems. But unfortunately, glass golems managed to slip by them and killed many people.

In Deroth and the rest of the Dia islands, they repelled them as good as they did last time.

Then Felix did an announcement.

- For you fools try to escape the inevitable, I shall make sure you will suffer. But not in the matter that your death will be painfull. Oh no, I'm not that barbaric. I will keep attacking every sixth day and wear you down. You cant keep this up forever, but I can. Enjoy these five days like always. May the parted souls find purity when they ascend to their afterlifes.

The rest of the five days went moving the people around. During those five days, I asked Siel'Kel, why didn't they try to help us from the start. The they said.

- I want people to be worthy of standing beneath the soultree. I will help every now and then, but if there is no attempt against the golems, I will let them perish.

This time I will go where Aktor is. I don't think they are doing so well.

The third wave had come. The troops in Ost were slim and the moral was low. Then the golems arrived. Aktor decided to rush in like a madman before they even reached the gates. I decided to go alongside him, since what else could I do.

After a while of fighting, I started to lose my energy. It was getting dangerous since I couldn't let them surround me. The arrows were coming from the wall and I had to make sure they don't hit me. I fell over from exhaustion, but I had to quickly rise up again or I would be killed. They reached the gates and we had to go alongside them. It was a bloody battle, but we managed to fend them off.

Aktor told me that I was a huge help to them and they cheered for me and Aktor. The moral got a bit better, but was still crushed by the weight of the lost ones. When I got even a small time to relax, I passed out from exhaustion.

What I heard later was some devastating news. Nearn has completely fallen. Most of the people who survived, fled to the seas to Ehstos, Ihm and Aeternus.

Ihm had lost many good people. I heard that even Will lost his live. Dell lost a left arm and was devastated to learn of his master's death. Stella and Revon were barely holding on for dear life and Jane was having some unknown breathing issues. Stoor is still sleeping in the mountains of southern islands.

Ehstos has almost completely gathered to Ahtur. With exception being Hiék. Ahtur manages to hold on, but is deeply troubled how to keep it's population alive and well.

In Arutos, the dragon lords are starting to show fatigue. Quetzalcoatl lost lot of blood during battle and Lóng is getting tired of protecting his people, but still pushes on.

In the Dia islands that are protected by Ryū, there has been trouble from the start. This is because Ryū is primarily used to sea and she has to fight in the land to protect her people. In rest of Deroth, the army is pushing on, but there starts to be more and more casualties from each wave.

If this continues, then...